PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kira Miyata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giuseppe Vitale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Miyata comes to the cage accompanied by Boa - Energetic. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Miyata
vs
Vitale

171 cm
25
153 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

169 cm
24
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kira Miyata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Giuseppe Vitale!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Ackerman and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vitale with a jab.
Miyata scores with a crisp jab that stopped Vitale in his tracks.
Miyata lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Miyata lands a glancing blow to the side of Vitale's head.
Vitale throws a lazy right hand but Miyata sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Miyata lands a glancing blow to the side of Vitale's head.
Miyata keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vitale.
Miyata misses with a straight left.
Miyata misses with a straight right.
Vitale shoots in looking for a takedown. Miyata tries to sprawl out of it but Vitale keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Miyata manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Vitale is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Miyata.

Miyata shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Vitale's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Miyata engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miyata tries to free his leg and advance position but Vitale is retaining full guard.
Vitale looking to control.
Miyata trying to control the position from guard on top but Vitale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Miyata looking to sit in guard and control but Vitale gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Miyata is trying to keep Vitale in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Miyata is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Miyata working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Vitale has passed into half guard!
Vitale throwing shots but Miyata is blocking nicely.
Miyata has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Vitale is working away from the top position though.
Vitale trying to control from half guard but Miyata is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vitale throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Miyata is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vitale sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Miyata defending well though.
Vitale throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Vitale looks to land a strike but Miyata avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Miyata has control of Vitale's left arm, preventing Vitale from doing any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Miyata is on top in guard.

Miyata scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vitale utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Miyata sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Vitale's guard.
Miyata lands strikes from half guard.
Miyata seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Vitale does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Miyata is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Vitale sees it coming and defends easily.
Vitale keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Miyata wants to pass to mount but Vitale is defending the position.
Miyata working over Vitale with some ground and pound. Vitale looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kira Miyata dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Vitale takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Miyata throws a solid leg kick but Vitale takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Miyata.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Vitale.
Vitale gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Miyata lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Miyata dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Miyata slips a jab and a cross from Vitale.
Vitale takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Vitale throws a right hand that misses
and Miyata connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Miyata just misses with a punch to the body.
Miyata throws a low kick, looking for Vitale's leg but Vitale calmly moves out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Miyata uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vitale.
Vitale tries for a takedown but Miyata sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vitale throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vitale looks to throw the jab but Miyata is out of range.
Vitale takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Good standup being displayed there by Miyata as he connects with a hook.
Miyata throws a chopping leg kick but Vitale manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Miyata tests Vitale's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nice defenses there by Miyata.

Miyata fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Vitale sprawls well initially but Miyata persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Miyata is trying to control. Vitale wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Vitale trying to control but Miyata postures up.
Vitale is staying active underneath Miyata, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miyata slips a nice elbow through Vitale's hands, connecting with Vitale's forehead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vitale wants to control but Miyata is keeping busy.

Miyata is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Vitale has managed to free his arm - good work.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Miyata is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vitale trying to control here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Vitale feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Miyatas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Vitale tries to clinch but Miyata is having none of it.
Vitale loads up on a big right hand but Miyata slips the punch.
Miyata works Vitale's body with a nice hook.
Vitale misses with a combination

and Miyata counters with a nice double leg into side control. Vitale won't be happy with that.
Miyata is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vitale can do to turn this around?
Miyata trying to control the action but Vitale is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miyata tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Miyata is trying to move to mount but Vitale reverses beautifully and ends up in Miyata's guard.
Vitale is in close to Miyata's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kira Miyata dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Miyata swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Miyata throws a good cross that connects.
Miyata on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Vitale.
Vitale throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Vitale scores with punches from side control.
Miyata manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Vitale is staying active underneath Miyata, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Miyata is pressing down on Vitale's thigh, looking to free his foot. Vitale is holding on for now.
Vitale wants to improve his position but Miyata is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miyata thows a huge punch but Vitale dodges it nicely.
Miyata missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Miyata is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Vitale defends it well.

Miyata is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Vitale sees it coming and defends easily.
Miyata controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Vitale tries to roll over but Miyata keeps him under control.
Vitale is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Miyata prevents Vitale from improving his position.
Miyata sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Vitale defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miyata not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Vitale loads up on a big right hand but Miyata slips the punch.
Vitale takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Vitale uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Miyata.
Vitale shoots in but Miyata avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Giuseppe Vitale has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vitale moves in looking to clinch but Miyata pushes him off.
Vitale throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Miyata gets a takedown into half guard.
Miyata not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Miyata seems to be looking for submissions.
Kira Miyata overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vitale blocking the ground and pound attempt from Miyata.
Vitale won't allow Miyata to pass to mount.
Vitale is looking for a sweep. Miyata is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vitale trying to control but Miyata postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Miyata thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vitale's head.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Miyata scores with a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kira Miyata showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Miyata has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kira Miyata!
A relieved looking Kira Miyata thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.